Brantford.

In these sketches of towns in Southern Ontario we are not vain enough to suppose that because we have produced some lines thereon that said rhymes are poetry. If we furnish an occasional poetic gleam like a dewdrop sparkling in the sun, it is all we dare hope for.


        Brantford as thriving city's famed,
        And after Indian Chief is named,
        And here the sparkling Grand River
        It doth flow a joy forever.

        Campbell he sang a dismal tale
        Of horrors of Wyoming's vale,
        The tale one's mind doth ever haunt,
        The cruelties of monster Brant.

        But the Chief's son to England went
        And Campbell to him did lament,
        And all the tale he did recant
        About cruel butcheries of Brant.

        Now pleasant thoughts it doth awake
        When Brantford thinks of her namesake,
        She evermore with pride will chant
        The bold heroic name of Brant.

        We sing of two great Indian names,
        Tecumseh on the banks of Thames,
        And the Grand River it doth vaunt
        O'er the historic name of Brant.

        The city's pride it doth find vent
        In building him a monument,
        And Indians will proudly stalk
        Past memorial of great Mohawk.

James McIntyre

James McIntyre was a Canadian poet, most notable for his poetry concerning cheese, cheese-making, dairying, and dairy products. Often referred to as 'The Cheese Poet,' McIntyre's work is celebrated for its earnestness and unintentional humor, making him both a beloved and an infamous figure in literary circles. He emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1851 and settled in Ingersoll, Ontario, where he became a successful businessman and community leader.

James McIntyre

Departed Statesmen.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Canada Our Home, 1883.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Bryant.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

Highland Sketches.

James McIntyre, Simple Poetry

English

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Prologue To South Ontario Sketches.

The district lying South of Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe, including Toronto.


        My friends we sing Canadian themes,
            For in them we proudly glory,
        Her lakes and rivers and her streams,
            Worthy of renown in story;
        And in these leaves we hope is strewn
            Some wheat among the chaff,
        And maple boughs by rude axe hewn,
            Where one may find a rustic staff;
        To help him o'er the rugged lines
            If he to weariness inclines.
        Some see no beauties near to home,
            But do admire the distant far,
        They always love abroad to roam,
            View glory in but far off star;
        But let it never be forgot
            That distant hills when closer se...

James McIntyre

English Names On Canadian Thames.

        England has given us the names
        To adorn Canadian Thames,
        And charms to them she has lent
        In Oxford, Middlesex and Kent,
        She Essex kisseth in her mouth,
        And Scottish names, one north, one south,
        And London now it justly claims
        'Tis capital of vale of Thames,
        And her strong castellated tower
        Doth on the river frowning lower,
        And Chatham is the river's port,
        There slaves for freedom did resort,
        And they did industrious toil,
        And now many own the soil,
        Stratford now shall be our theme,
        On Avon tributary stream,
        And its clear waters it doth launch
        Into the Thames northern branch,
        Near that substantial ston...

James McIntyre

Holland River And Its Tributaries.

Meanderings of a stream rises twenty miles north of Toronto and sweeps around the whole of Southern Ontario.


        We love to sing of tiny stream,
            Through the lowland meadows running,
        To us it is a pleasing theme,
            Tracing it from first beginning.

        'Tis strange how far a brook will roam,
            Moving onwards in its motion,
        And not content till it reaches home,
            Two thousand miles to distant ocean.

        In county York springs a small brook,
            A few miles north of Ontario,
        But it doth take a wondrous crook,
            It northward many miles doth flow.

        Brook's progress south is stopped by ridge,
            Doth debar its southern course,
     ...

James McIntyre

The Shires On The Moray Frith.

        Worthy of either song or story
        Are the shires round frith of Moray,
        Here lies the valley of Strathspey,
        Famed for its music, lively, gay,
        Elgin cathedral's 'prentice aisle
        Is glory of that ruined pile.
        What modern chisel now could trace
        Fine sculpture of that ancient place,
        And Forres famed for Sweno's stane
        In honor of that kingly Dane,
        'Graved with warriors runes and rhymes,
        Long prior to historic times,
        For a thousand years its been forgot
        Who was victor Dane or Scot,
        It is the country of McBeth
        Where good King Duncan met his death,
        And barren heath that place of fear
        Stood witches cauldron of Shakespeare,

James McIntyre

North-West Rebellion, 1885.

        Hail Canada our young fair land,
        The world's respect it doth command;
        How quick her sons at war's alarms
        Sprang to her rescue with their arms.

        In Canada the English rose,
        The shamrock and the thistle grows,
        United garland they combine
        Around the maple tree to twine.

        They did march a brave gallant host
        From the far East Atlantic coast,
        Our Canada so proud and free,
        Four thousand miles from sea to sea.

        Though skilful rebels did entrench,
        But their deadly fires our boys did quench,
        And victory it soon was won
        By our General Middleton.

        And Colonel Williams left a name
        For Canada's temple of fam...

James McIntyre

Canada Our Home, 1883.

The following response to Canada our home was given at a banquet of the Caledonian Society, Ingersoll:

In responding to the sentiment Canada our home perhaps it would be appropriate to point out the prominent and distinguishing characteristics between the land of our nativity and the land of our adoption. In this Canada of ours we have no bonny blooming heath, no banks and braes covered o'er with daisies and gowans, no fragrant hedges showering down white spray in the May time, no whin and broom prodigal in their gaiety of yellow flowers, no hills nor glens where fairies gambol in pleasant and harmless sport, no grand ruins of ancient cathedrals and castles, no feathered songsters like the mavis and blackbird.

        Full oft we did enraptured hark
        To heavenly song of the skylark.

But Canada ...

James McIntyre